The GSC Football in 2025 / Changes Coming

[Eagle74]

With NGU, Shorter, Erskine, and Chowan focusing on filling their 2025 schedules with other Conference Carolinas football teams, which also include UNC Pembroke, Barton, and Ferrum, those teams will not have a lot of extra room for GSC teams. Add in the fact that some of those programs have non-GSC regional rivals that they will naturally schedule, and it doesn't appear that the GSC is really being proactive in finding long-term solutions in filling potential voids.

Your thoughts?

[Rational Observer]

While we don't know what is happening behind the scenes, where exactly is the GSC supposed to find replacement members?

There is a huge demographic shift underway away from college education. Just google "enrollment cliff". We may actually see institutions close. There was an article recently about Mississippi possibly closing schools, and DSU was on the list of possibilities.

You really only have two sources for replacements:

1- Existing D-II schools add football
2- NAIA schools transition to D-II

The problem is money, and with the enrollment cliff, money is decreasing, not increasing.

UWF and VSU need to be planning on moving to the FCS, but they have the same money problem as mentioned above. VSU has seen drastic declines in enrollment since Covid.

[Redwing]

I know that the GLIAC is looking for opponents. Not all can afford to make it worthwhile for a long distance opponent. But more than half the conference is willing to travel almost anywhere, and some members help out the visitors. Just sayin'

[Eagle74]

As a long time fan of the GSC, my hopes are that most of the Conference Carolinas teams utilize their open dates to schedule as many GSC teams as possible for the foreseeable future.

[statesmen supporter]

I hope DSU could get some games with the MIAA since they have started to play some out of conference games and some GLiAC or maybe LSC teams

[UWAalum]

What I hear is home and away games with each school for the remaining GSC members. Not ideal but it will allow everyone to fill a schedule with D2 games. FCS is a bad option for some of the remaining members especially those that are having national success in sports other than football.

I spoke with a D1 baseball coach that told me that one of the GSC recent exiters had perhaps the worst D1 baseball team he had ever seen.

Getting shellacked on national TV once or twice a year does very little in the way of positive exposure that some fans brag about but scheduling is a problem.

[CalifOKRA]

What I hear is home and away games with each school for the remaining GSC members. Not ideal but it will allow everyone to fill a schedule with D2 games. FCS is a bad option for some of the remaining members especially those that are having national success in sports other than football.

I spoke with a D1 baseball coach that told me that one of the GSC recent exiters had perhaps the worst D1 baseball team he had ever seen.

Getting shellacked on national TV once or twice a year does very little in the way of positive exposure that some fans brag about but scheduling is a problem.

I would expect them, whoever it is, to have one of the worst D1 baseball teams after transitioning. Give them some time to build and recruit as a D1 program. Transitioning to D1 is tough for the majority of schools, and instant success isn't a reality.

ESPN+ shows the majority of FCS games every Saturday, so it gives fans more chances to watch. Any exposure is good exposure. The thing that is huge for small schools playing at a high level FBS program is the guaranteed money. That paycheck can potentially fund the athletic program for an entire school year, at the very least, it will fund the football program for the season. It's extra cash into the the athletic department, and I'm sure the school capitalizes as well.

If arguing the national exposure thing, it's really not a great argument, in my opinion. There's no national exposure in D2, but there is exposure with the D1 name and playing teams that are more relevant.

If Delta State had the money to move to D1/FCS, I would 100% want them to.

[boyblue]

Albany State, Fort Valley and Savanna State are all public universities and are all part of the University System of Georgia. They are not private institutions dependent on benefactors for funding. I maintain that they have an unfair advantage over the other SIAC schools because of this budget disparity. But for historical issues, the GSC is a more appropriate match for these schools.

I know that none of their presidents would survive such a decision but just as when the banks were bailed out, they had federal oversight, I believe these schools should have a responsibility to those footing the bill. ASU expends $19,706 per student, SSU $33,495 and FVSU $27,737; if any significant portion of these funds are supplied by Georgia tax payers, I suggest those schools should be handled just like the other state schools.

Historically black doesn't mean they should run more inefficiently (not saying they are), given special dispensations (again not saying they are), or remain in a conference that is not reflective of its benefactors. It seems the powers that be have not been able to find the right balance. Public policy is often times insensitive to these issues and sometimes there is overcompensation. Honestly though, sometimes we (Black folk) are allowed to get away with stuff for fear of the race card being pulled. ASU, FVSU and SSU should join the GSC, what harm could come of this? An ASU National Championship? God Forbid!

[Rational Observer]

Albany State, Fort Valley and Savanna State are all public universities and are all part of the University System of Georgia. They are not private institutions dependent on benefactors for funding. I maintain that they have an unfair advantage over the other SIAC schools because of this budget disparity. But for historical issues, the GSC is a more appropriate match for these schools.

I know that none of their presidents would survive such a decision but just as when the banks were bailed out, they had federal oversight, I believe these schools should have a responsibility to those footing the bill. ASU expends $19,706 per student, SSU $33,495 and FVSU $27,737; if any significant portion of these funds are supplied by Georgia tax payers, I suggest those schools should be handled just like the other state schools.

Historically black doesn't mean they should run more inefficiently (not saying they are), given special dispensations (again not saying they are), or remain in a conference that is not reflective of its benefactors. It seems the powers that be have not been able to find the right balance. Public policy is often times insensitive to these issues and sometimes there is overcompensation. Honestly though, sometimes we (Black folk) are allowed to get away with stuff for fear of the race card being pulled. ASU, FVSU and SSU should join the GSC, what harm could come of this? An ASU National Championship? God Forbid!

They aren't leaving SIAC to join the GSC. Suggesting such is asinine.

[crashandannie]

I was told there is an agreement that GSC and Conference Carolinas will continue to play each other, at least for next season.

I think the GSC should maybe go after Keiser and other NAIA schools with football programs. Keiser at least has shown they can play D2 level.

[FormerCrusader#84]

This thread reminds of another one from a few months ago discussing if some of the SIAC schools should move to the GSC. I don't think boyblue is incorrect, I think Savannah State, Fort Valley State, and Albany State would fit in the GSC but, unfortunately, it seems unlikely to happen. As I said in a previous post on a previous thread (see link above), Southeastern, Ave Maria, Keiser, and St. Thomas may be the most viable schools to poach from the Sun Conference (NAIA). Additionally, other NAIA programs such as Reinhardt (Ga.), Faulkner (Alabama), Cumberland U. (Tenn.), and Bethel (Tenn.) also fit the GSC footprint. I think UWF (and probably VSU) leaving for FCS will happen sooner rather than later and any mix of the above mentioned schools would be a win for the GSC. I think a GSC/CC scheduling agreement works for the short term but CC may be looking to add more schools (Reinhardt, Cumberland U., Union Commonwealth (Ky.), Pikeville, and Faulkner all fit the CC footprint). If that happens there will not be much of a need for a scheduling agreement with the GSC.

[crashandannie]

Also a couple of the non-football schools might add football. At least one current school was accepted into the GSC with the understanding hat they would start a football program, or so I have been told by people who would know.

[boyblue]

They aren't leaving SIAC to join the GSC. Suggesting such is asinine.

Just because they won't leave willingly don't mean that they shouldn't move or can't be compelled to move.

[QUOTE=FormerCrusader#84;n850309]This thread reminds of another one from a few months ago discussing if some of the SIAC schools should move to the GSC. I don't think boyblue is incorrect, I think Savannah State, Fort Valley State, and Albany State would fit in the GSC but, unfortunately, it seems unlikely to happen. As I said in a previous post on a previous thread (see link above), Southeastern, Ave Maria, Keiser, and St. Thomas may be the most viable schools to poach from the Sun Conference (NAIA). Additionally, other NAIA programs such as Reinhardt (Ga.), Faulkner (Alabama), Cumberland U. (Tenn.), and Bethel (Tenn.) also fit the GSC footprint. I think UWF (and probably VSU) leaving for FCS will happen sooner rather than later and any mix of the above mentioned schools would be a win for the GSC. I think a GSC/CC scheduling agreement works for the short term but CC may be looking to add more schools (Reinhardt, Cumberland U., Union Commonwealth (Ky.), Pikeville, and Faulkner all fit the CC footprint). If that happens there will not be much of a need for a scheduling agreement with the GSC.



[/QUO
Your suggestion makes a lot of sense because the NAIA has long been a source for D2, it's sort of a natural progression.

[Rational Observer]

Just because they won't leave willingly don't mean that they shouldn't move or can't be compelled to move.

Suggesting that they be compelled to move is even more asinine.

[UNALions]

GSC, Conference Carolinas Announce Scheduling Partnership

BIRMINGHAM, Ala./GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Gulf South Conference and Conference Carolinas mutually announce a two-year football scheduling partnership. The agreement coordinates a total of 18 non-conference football games to be played during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Per the agreement, teams from Conference Carolinas will host five events in 2025, while GSC teams will be at home five times in 2026.